How Trump could change U.S. auto manufacturing

Major auto companies have been crowding forward this week to announce new investments that will create or keep jobs in the U.S. Does this signal a change in direction in response to the tweeted combination of threats and encouragement from Donald Trump?

Some industry analysts have a clear answer. “As with Ford, Fiat Chrysler and Toyota before, General Motors’ announcement of a $1 billion investment is mostly theater to play in the news cycle created by President-elect Trump’s tweets,” said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for Autotrader. “These investments and hiring plans have long been in the works.”

But many Trump campaign promises -- if actually put into law -- could change the face of auto manufacturing in North America.

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